There haven’t been any real updates on that fourth Austin Powers film since we heard over the summer that Mike Myers and New Line were still ironing out the details, but it seems you’ll be seeing more of the International Man of Mystery in one form or another. Myers is now set to write the story for a stage musical based on the character, with Tony Award-winning The Book of Mormon co-director Casey Nicholaw in talks to direct. The new play will serve as a prequel to the movies, and will not star Myers. More details after the jump.

According to sources who spoke with The Hollywood Reporter, the Austin Powers musical “will be set in 1960s London and detail how Powers first acquired his mighty mojo.” Colin Callender and Sonia Friedman will produce the play, which will feature the music of Burt Bacharach and Elvis Costello. Myers is reportedly a fan of Bacharach’s — “The Look of Love” is apparently Myers’ dad’s favorite song — so the former makes sense, but the choice of Costello seems a bit odd seeing as his career didn’t take off til the ’70s. Then again, we’re talking about a franchise that involves a time-traveling Volkswagen Beetle, so I suppose it shouldn’t be too hard to work ’70s music into the ’60s plot.

I can’t say I saw this stage adaptation coming, but it makes a lot of sense. As THR notes, the past films have featured musical numbers, and Myers himself is said to consider the movies to be musicals. Morever, Austin Powers’ garish style should translate fantastically to the stage musicals, where over-the-top spectacle isn’t just welcomed but encouraged. And Nicholaw, whose previous work includes directing The Book of Mormon and Elf and choreographing Spamalot, should have no trouble at all with Austin Powers’ cheeky sense of humor.

As for Austin Powers 4, that film still in development but has yet to reach the writing stage. At this rate, we very well may end up seeing the stage musical first.